Safety risks are those that can cause an accident suddenly: falls, blows, cuts, entrapment, electric shocks, fires. They are prevented mainly through good conditions in the workplace and of the equipment.
Workplaces
Real Decreto 486/1997 sets the minimum conditions. For new workplaces it requires, for example:
- 3 metres in height (2.5 m in shops, services and offices).
- 2 m² of free floor area and 10 m³ of unoccupied volume per person.
- External doors at least 80 cm wide and corridors at least 1 m.
- Fixed, stable, non-slip floors.
- Traffic routes and emergency exits kept clear of obstacles.
Falls
Falls are one of the most frequent causes of accidents.
- Falls on the same level: slips and trips due to wet floors, cables, boxes in the way. They are prevented with tidiness and cleanliness: pick things up straight away, dry spills, put up a warning sign.
- Falls from a height: from stairs, platforms or openings. Guard rails must be at least 90 cm high and openings with a risk of falling must be protected.
- Stepladders and ladders: check that they are stable, keep both feet on the rungs, face the ladder and do not carry loads that throw you off balance.
Blows, cuts and entrapment
- Use each tool for what it is made for and check that it is in good condition.
- Machines must have guards and emergency stops. Never remove or disable them, even if it makes the job quicker.
- Do not clean or repair a machine while it is running. Stop it and disconnect it first.
- Avoid loose clothing, bracelets and loose hair near rotating parts.
- Only authorised and trained people operate dangerous equipment.
Electricity
Current can cause burns, cardiac arrest and death, even at low voltages.
- Do not work on electrical installations if it is not your job and you are not trained.
- Do not use bare cables, broken sockets or overloaded extension leads. Report any defect.
- Do not touch electrical appliances with wet hands or on a wet floor.
- Pull the plug, never the cable.
- Do not cover the ventilation grilles of appliances.
Fires
For there to be fire, you need fuel, oxygen and a source of heat. Remove one of the three and the fire goes out. The most common causes are electrical installations in poor condition, accumulated paper or cardboard, flammable liquids stored badly and heat sources left unattended.
Fires are classified by the material that is burning:
- Class A: solids (wood, paper, cloth).
- Class B: flammable liquids (petrol, solvents).
- Class C: gases.
- Class D: metals.
- Class F: cooking oils and fats.
The multipurpose dry powder (ABC) extinguisher is suitable for several classes. Do not use water on a fire in installations with live electricity. On electrical equipment, CO₂ or powder extinguishers are used.
To use an extinguisher: pull out the pin, aim at the base of the flames and discharge in a sweeping motion, with the wind at your back. If the fire grows or there is a lot of smoke, leave and raise the alarm.
Tidiness and cleanliness
It is the cheapest measure and one of the most effective: clear walkways, materials in their place, waste cleared, tools put away. A tidy place has fewer falls, fewer blows and fewer fires.